EFFector - Volume 26, Issue 24 - The spy in your pocket

An article in the Washington Post has disclosed the NSA's massive cell phone location program. The program, codenamed CO-TRAVELER, is designed to track who meets with whom and covers everyone who carries a cell phone, all around the world. With neither public debate nor court authorization, CO-TRAVELER collects nearly five billion records daily of cell phone user location information, mapping the relationships of cell phone users across global mobile network cables. This reveals data about who you are physically with, and how often your movements intersect with other cell phone users. The program even tracks when your phone is turned on or off.

The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved the Innovation Act, the best troll-killing bill we've seen yet. And earlier this week the White House put out a strong statement in support. All that's left is the Senate, which has promised to take up the issue before the end of this year. On another front, the Supreme Court has agreed to take on the validity of abstract software patents.

Privacy may not be the only casualty of the National Security Agency's massive surveillance program. Major sectors of the U.S. economy are reporting financial damage as the recent revelations shake consumer confidence. Around the world, U.S. trade partners are distancing themselves from American companies that may have been compromised by the NSA or, worse, are secretly collaborating with the spy agency. Members of Congress, especially those who champion America’s competitiveness in the global marketplace, should take note and rein in the NSA now if they want to stem the damage.

EFF Updates

We've heard from lots of folks who are passionately concerned about the NSA's mass spying, but are struggling to get their friends and family to understand the problem and join the over a half-million people who have demanded change through stopwatching.us and elsewhere. Here's a cheat sheet to help you talk about the NSA spying when you're with family and friends.

After more than two years of community discussions and many drafts, the nonprofit Creative Commons has released a new version of its popular copyright license suite. These licenses allow rightsholders to release some of the exclusive rights associated with copyright while retaining others, in a way that's easy for re-users, indexable by computers, and that stands up to legal review in many countries.

A U.S. citizen has become the first foreigner to be charged under the United Arab Emirates' "cybercrime" decree for a satirical video about young people in Dubai. Shezanne Casim, an Abu Dhabi resident, was arrested in April and charged with violating Article 28 of the cybercrimes law.

EFF welcomes the winter season with a new wishlist of some things we'd love to have happen for the holidays—for us and for all Internet users. These are some of the actions we'd most like to see from companies, governments, organizations, and individuals in the new year.

EFF has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a federal criminal case in Washington state that involves the constitutionality of using a camera mounted outside a house to allow the police to watch the home for almost a month. The Senior District Court Judge invited EFF to submit the brief, in which we argue prolonged warrantless video surveillance violates the Fourth Amendment.

Privacy is due for an upgrade. EFF has joined a nationwide day of action calling for reform of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the 1986 law used by the government to access your online documents, messages, and emails stored in the cloud without a warrant. Please join us in demanding for long-overdue updates to our archaic electronic privacy laws.

This short video makes the case for why ordinary citizens should be concerned about NSA spying. It features EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kurt Opsahl and was co-produced by EFF Activism Director Rainey Reitman.

Eyes Wide Open is a new project by Privacy International that delves into the The Five Eyes, a 70 year old secret surveillance alliance between English-speaking nations: U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Announcements

In 2013, we learned digital surveillance by world governments knows no bounds. Join the global movement demanding the protection of human rights and an end to mass surveillance. Let the world know: privacy is a human right. Endorse the Necessary and Proportionate Principles.

We're looking for a full-time activist to fight for free speech, innovation, and privacy on the Internet and other technologies. If you are passionate about technology, dedicated to its role in building a better future, and want to work alongside leaders in the field, this dream job may be for you!

Delegates from national and international governmental entities, the private sector, civil society, and academia will gather for five days of interconnected events in Cape Town, South Africa. EFF Global Policy Analyst Maira Sutton will speak on the potential impacts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement on heightening global norms of copyright and patent enforcement.December 9-13, 2013Capetown, South Africa

Right of publicity law is a mess: courts apply a variety of tests and apply these tests inconsistently to different forms of media. EFF Staff Attorney Daniel Nazer will help clear that up in this event with the San Francisco Bar Association.December 11, 2013San Francisco, CA

EthicsInTech presents a fun night of Comedy, Ethics & Technology to help protect the Fourth Amendment and our constitutional rights and freedoms. EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn will sit on a panel that includes Will Durst, "America's Funniest Political Comedian," and Brewster Kahle of the Internet Archive.December 11, 2013San Francisco, CA

EFF Activism Director Rainey Reitman will lead a Q&A on privacy and surveillance in the Internet age following a screening of the new documentary Terms and Conditions May Apply.January 30, 2014Los Angeles, CA

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